Leslie A. Brun Resigns from Merck Board of Directors

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that Leslie A. Brun, its independent lead director, has resigned from its Board of Directors, effective August 19, 2021. Mr. Brun is stepping down due to his decision to become chairman and chief executive officer of Ariel Alternatives, LLC, a subsidiary of Ariel Investments, LLC, a private equity initiative being created to help scale minority-owned businesses to serve as tier 1 suppliers to Fortune 500 companies. Merck is currently evaluating making an investment with Ariel Alternatives.

"Les has been an invaluable member of Merck's board for many years and we have benefitted greatly from his leadership, wise counsel and friendship," said Rob Davis, chief executive officer and president, Merck. "While we will miss him, we recognize the importance of the task Les is undertaking at Ariel Alternatives, and we wish him great success."

The company intends to name a new independent lead director in the near future.

About Merck

For 130 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals - including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola and emerging animal diseases - as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world.